Rival bosses’ friendly ire
of slow reactions and a post – Sadio Mane knocking in a rebound after Daniel Sturridge had hit the woodwork – still induces a wince.
“It was unlucky,” he said. “Everyone thinks it’s against Liverpool again, but that’s just football. It is like Stekelenburg’s injury. I don’t like to play because one of my team-mates is injured but sometimes your luck changes. When it does you need to grab the opportunity.”
JOEL ROBLES was speaking courtesy of BT Sport. Everton take on Manchester United live on BT Sport on Tuesday. Visit www. bt.com/sport. THE Merseyside derby kicks off the return to Premier League action and an Everton side that have been flying since the start of the year have suddenly been grounded by injuries.
They sit top of the 2017 form table yet Liverpool are comfortable favourites, thanks largely to the international break wrecking Everton’s back four.
Liverpool’s potent attack should, in theory, have no trouble getting on the scoresheet. The Reds cannot be ignored at 8-11.
This fixture is often characterised by feisty challenges and it is 11-4 for a red card to be shown at some stage. Tom Davies, an Everton academy graduate and nephew of former Toffees player Alan Whittle, is someone who will know the importance of these games. Odds of 6-4 for him to be carded could well be worth a flutter.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, a treble on Tottenham away, Chelsea at home and Manchester United at home pays 2-1.
Away from the football, world No1 Dustin Johnson looks unbeatable heading into the Masters, although 5-1 is a touch on the skinny side so try a saver on Augusta specialist Bubba Watson at 40-1. back on a Friday morning and play on a Saturday with a 12.30pm kick-off.
“It’s crazy. We haven’t even had a real training session. It’s been recover, recover, recover and you just can’t prepare as you would like to.”
Everton are missing Morgan Schneiderlin, Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori and James McCarthy, the latter three all stricken on international duty, while their Belgium internationals Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas played a friendly against Russia in Sochi on Tuesday night.
Klopp, who lost Adam Lallana, above, during the international break after he played for England against both Germany in a friendly and Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier, had sympathy for his opposite number.
“Do you really think they [Belgium or Russia] use this game for the World Cup in two years? That is not what anybody needs,” he said. “Would anyone miss international friendlies? I’m not sure but maybe we should try.”
Koeman’s mood has not been improved by McCarthy’s situation this week, with the Everton boss embroiled in a row with Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill over the hamstring injury sustained by the player.
Koeman reiterated his criticism of both O’Neill and his own player, who he accused of going against medical advice from both club and country.
“James must take responsibility too, and we have spoken about this,” he said. “It’s not the first time this has happened and it is really frustrating that he will now miss our game against Liverpool, our game against Manchester United on Tuesday and will not be fit again for several weeks.”
Koeman’s side are seeking to overturn 18 years of Anfield misery since their last victory there in 1999.